Winget Quick Reference

Windows Package Manager (winget) is Microsoft's CLI tool for installing, updating, and managing software.

Search for Packages

# Search by name
winget search vscode

# Web-based search UI
# https://solrevdev.com/winget-search/

Install

# Basic install
winget install <package-name>

# Install with exact ID match (-e = --exact)
winget install -e --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode

# Install specific version
winget install -e --id Oven-sh.Bun --version 1.1.0

# Accept all agreements automatically (useful for scripts)
winget install -e --id Oven-sh.Bun --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements

Installation Scope

# Install for current user only (no admin required)
winget install -e --id Oven-sh.Bun --scope user

# Install system-wide (requires admin)
winget install -e --id Oven-sh.Bun --scope machine

Uninstall

# Basic uninstall
winget uninstall <package-name>

# Uninstall with exact ID
winget uninstall -e --id Oven-sh.Bun

# Uninstall and remove app data (if supported)
winget uninstall -e --id Oven-sh.Bun --purge

Update / Upgrade

# List packages with available updates
winget upgrade

# Update a specific package
winget upgrade -e --id Oven-sh.Bun

# Update ALL packages
winget upgrade --all

# Update all, accepting agreements (for scripts)
winget upgrade --all --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements

View Package Info

# Show package details (version, publisher, license, install URL)
winget show Oven-sh.Bun

# Show all available versions
winget show Oven-sh.Bun --versions

List Installed Packages

# List all installed packages (from all sources)
winget list

# Filter by name
winget list bun

Export / Import (Lockfile-like System)

Export your installed packages to a JSON file for reproducible setups:

# Export all packages
winget export -o winget-pkgs.json

# Export with pinned versions
winget export -o winget-pkgs-lock.json --include-versions

Import on a new machine:

# Install all packages from export file
winget import -i winget-pkgs-lock.json --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements

Common Flags Reference

Flag	Long Form	Description
`-e`	`--exact`	Match package ID exactly
`-h`	`--silent`	Silent install (no UI)
`-i`	`--interactive`	Interactive install (show installer UI)
`-o`	`--output`	Output file path
`-v`	`--version`	Specify version
	`--scope`	`user` or `machine`
	`--accept-package-agreements`	Auto-accept package license
	`--accept-source-agreements`	Auto-accept source agreements

Settings

Open winget settings file:

winget settings

Example settings (JSON):

{
  "installBehavior": {
    "preferences": {
      "scope": "user"
    }
  }
}

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